Romantic Things to Do For Valentines Day

Romance And Love

Every year on February 14th that special holiday just for Lovers is celebrated. We are talking of course about Valentines Day.

Starting in January we are bombarded with ads on television, radio and in print about getting the perfect, most romantic gift. But just what is the right gift?

Is it the biggest bouquet of flowers, the largest box of chocolates or the most expensive candlelit dinner? How about a piece of shiny jewelry?

All of these things are okay, they're just not very romantic. Anyone can go to the nearest jeweler or flower shop, whip out the credit card and spend the amount they think is needed to impress their lover.

There are even lists that actually suggest giving gift certificates. It doesn't matter if the certificate is for a spa, jewelry or sexy lingerie, a gift certificate basically says, this is how much you are worth to me.

Don't get me wrong, those things can be part of the Valentines Day experience, they just shouldn't be your entire focus.

To make Valentines Day truly memorable you need to allow your inner romantic to express itself. To do this you need to try a different tact, you need to spend a little more time finding the best ways to express your love to that most significant person in your life.

The Valentines Day Test

Start by considering Valentines Day as a test. Not a test where you sit down and mark answers on a sheet of paper, but rather a test of how well you actually know your Lover.

Prep for your test by truly listening to and observing your Lover. Watch what he or she looks at in stores. Look for the pauses as they find something in the paper or a magazine that catches their eye. Think about your relationship. Is there something that you used to do together when you were first dating that has gradually given way to the daily demands of home and work?

When you plan for Valentines Day consider that the single most precious gift that you can give your lover is a gift of time. Time with you, special time for themselves, be creative.

Also consider the day as a series of gifts, not just one here are the flowers and chocolates, now lets go to dinner. A series of small gifts or surprises that lead to something truly special will make this Valentines Day the most memorable ever.

So here are a few ideas.

• Start the day by giving a single red rose and a short love note when they wake. The note doesn't have to be poetic or perfect prose, it just needs to be sincere.
• If they are the one that always cooks breakfast, you do it. Place a small love coupon next to the plate that gives your lover the gift of your time for whatever they may want.
• Borrow their car and thoroughly clean it inside and out. Don't tell them what you are going to do or what you have done, just do it and allow them to discover it on their own.
• Plan a special activity that includes just the two of you. It doesn't matter if it's rock climbing, swimming at the beach, dancing, hiking or a bike ride. The idea is that it be an activity that you both will enjoy all the more because you are doing it together.
• If there is something that your Valentine has been trying to get you to do or try, now would be a fantastic time to do it, with them. Have they been trying to get you to exercise, go for a walk, take a dance lesson, go to a special movie, go rollerskating or whatever.

The basic idea is that whatever you do doesn't have to be super romantic. The romance will come from the fact that you have truly listened and responded to the one you love.

Then take them out to dinner and dancing, give them the flowers and chocolates and buy them some nice jewelry. After all, they are the love of your life!

Make your loved one smile with satisfaction every time that they think about this Valentines Day. Bob Current is the author of http://www.thingstodoforvalentinesday.info Check it out for even more ideas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Current

Ho, Ho, Ho! Is A Non-Traditional Santa Costume On Your Christmas List This Year?

Memories of Santa Claus and his magical influence has many Christmas enthusiasts searching for that perfect Santa Costume to keep tradition alive each festive season!

However, something odd has happened over time, and we are quickly noticing that Mr. Santa is setting some new trends with his Santa suits, and has been spotted around town in many fashion styles and colors that are not so traditional anymore.

Santa Claus costumes have come a long way, and with many of the online costume suppliers stocking up on good old Saint Nick apparel, you just can't imagine what this popular elf will come up with next this year. I'm just amazed how these online costume companies catch on so fast with the trends, and make them available to you so quickly, aren't you?

Known also as Kris Kringle, he is normally seen around town on Christmas Eve in his traditional red suit with white fur trim, red Santa hat, black boots, and big belt to hold in his big jelly belly, which still seems to be very popular to date. But in the past few years Santa decided to promote some of his new outfits for the holiday season, and now if you're lucky enough, you can see him around town wearing fancy blue Santa Claus suits, with a variety of matching blue Santa hats! I personally find it very slimming for Santa.

Mr. Claus Is Spreading The Cheer With Holiday Costumes For Women, Kids, and Even Your Pets! Boy, times are changing, but I believe for the better! It's nice to see that Santa's not the only exclusive Christmas icon seen wearing a festive costume. The only thing is, I'm not sure if you agree, but old Saint Nick's getting a little relaxed in his days, and if you happen to be out and about late at night, you may see Mr. Kringle hanging out in some of your local night clubs, with a beautiful lady wearing a very revealing sexy Santa costume. I wonder what Mrs. Claus has to say about that!

If you have seen these sexy Santa costumes, they truly are eye candy for the adult's eyes! I personally have seen them, and they're very attractive looking with the little red dress, plush white trim, cuffs, black belt, and matching Santa hat. I have also witnessed the Saucy Santa outfit, which includes a red velvet dress, white fur trim, and matching hat. Wow, I better stop talking, just in case Old Nick finds out I'm revealing his secrets, and puts me on his naughty list.

I'm not sure if Santa happens to be recruiting Santa helpers in his extremely old age, but it is well documented that many costume suppliers are offering a wide range of Santa Claus costumes for kids! Now of course they didn't have any Santa facial hair, and were not wearing a Santa Claus beard and wig, so this is how I knew they were children, and not elves.

You can tell Old Saint Nick likes his protégés to look good, because these kids were wearing some joyful apparel. The boys had on a Red Velveteen Santa suit, with white fur trim, black belt, and boot tops, with the traditional red Santa hat. The girls were wearing the Little Miss Santa outfit, which included a red dress with white accents, belt, and Santa hat as well. The infants were bundled up in precious Santa Claus baby costumes, which made them look absolutely adorable. You could tell they were enjoying themselves, and they were all spreading the true festive spirit like Santa would have in his younger days.

Now call me crazy, but I think Father Christmas was going a little too far when I happened to spot many pet costumes. Who would have thought there would be a Santa costume for pets! Well it's true, and you can see many of these furry critters running around in pet antlers, and you have to see the Santa Claws costume that includes the red outfit with white trim, and attached character arms, it's amazingly funny. Leave it to good Old St. Nick to give us all a laugh or two.

While wrapping up this story, I realized that Christmas is a time of year to spend with your close family and friends, and with our world changing every year, it's fun and refreshing to look at celebrating this great season with a spontaneous, colorful change. It keeps our minds fresh, and when you finally find your Santa costume that suits your personal style, embrace it, and enjoy a non-traditional Festive Noel once in a while!

About the author: William is the owner and the author of "1st In Halloween Costumes" available at http://www.1st-in-halloween-costumes.com Not only are we a Halloween costume source, but you can also view an extensive line of Seasonal Costumes, including a variety of quality traditional and non-traditional Santa Costumes as well! I encourage you to visit this site to see the extensive line of seasonal characters outfits that are available to you here online.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Parise

How to Purchase Big and Tall Men's Apparel

Finding big men's clothes for the tall man can be a nightmare - everything is either way too big or far too short as you search for that perfect combination of length and fit. To learn how and where to find great clothes for the taller man, read on.

Go See a Tailor

I have a good friend who is very tall - close to 6'7" - and to find clothes that were both stylish and fit him well, he simply had clothing custom and tailor-made. For example, he was hard-pressed to locate a dress shirt that was not only the right length in the torso and arms, but also wasn't so big that he was swimming in it. So, he opted to have customized dress shirts made.

A tailored shirt can cost $175 per item, but they're also handmade, made perfectly to measure and will last for years.

If you want to order custom-made and tailored pants, you should expect to pay a lot more. Most tailors will charge between $200 and $600 for a pair of custom pants. That said, some will charge a significantly reduced rate for future pairs because they've already measured you and created the pattern.

Eddie Bauer Tall

Eddie Bauer is a popular store known for its casual wear and outdoor clothing. While most of their clothes aren't appropriate for the more formal workplace, they're perfect for zipping around town or hanging around the house. They also happen to make an extensive line of tall clothing.

The line is available at most major Eddie Bauer stores, and it actually fits slim. So, if you're sick of shirts and pants that are long, but way too baggy - then this is the store for you. Their products are also durable and made for rugged use.

The Rochester Big and Tall Men's Store

Rochester's is a well-known chain of stores that specializes in clothing for big and tall men. You can visit any of their store locations or shop right from their website. They offer tall sizes up to 5XT which provides lots of extra length and a 38/39 long sleeve (a godsend for men who are tired of always having to push up their shirt sleeves).

The popular store also carries a wide range of suits from brands like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Palm Beach.

L.L. Bean Catalog

The great thing about L.L. Bean's custom mail order products is that they don't just make big men's clothes, but they manufacture clothes designed just for taller men. You can customize a shirt to have up to a 36-inch sleeve length and many of the outerwear and jackets are available in longer sizes.

For great information on clothing and styles for women and men - please visit clothingappareltips.com - a popular site offering overviews on apparel options - such as red hat appliques - men's tuxedos - and many more!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_R._Price

Review - Comparison of Braun Electric Toothbrush

The Braun Electric Toothbrush is one of many electric toothbrushes on the market. Some would argue that the Braun Electric Toothbrush is the most effective and it certaintly is the most popular, taking in over 5000 searches per month on search engines such as Google.

The flagship braun electric toothbrush is the Oral B. The latest version features a two minute optimal brushing timer, high speed oscillations, pressure sensor warning and a compact charging unit. The most recent model is the Oral B Triumph 9500 which retails at around $80.

The Oral-B Triumph is a significant advancement in rechargeable toothbrushes, setting new standards in customisation, feedback mechanisms, and overall brushing design. An on board computer helps you brush better: The toothbrush tracks your actual brushing and reminds you when to replace your brush head.

However the braun 9500 triumph electric toothbrush, is considered expensive by some people. As a solution to this, braun also offer the 7500 model which is cheaper at around $30.

Overall, braun electric toothbrushes are high quality and come in a variety of different models and price ranges to suit your needs.

Another popular electric toothbrush is the Philips Sensiflex HX 1507. This electric toothbrush is much cheaper than the Oral B Triumph but offers less features. It does not come with a travel box or timer and also only has one speed setting. The good news though is that this electric toothbrush only costs around $20 which is great value for money.

To summarise, the braun electric toothbrush has a great product range which offer premium features and lower feature specs at reduced prices.

To find out where to get the best deals onBraun Electric Toothbrush check out http://www.squidoo.com/braun-electric-toothbrush/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_Davis

Top 10 Most Wanted Toys For Christmas 2008 - Put These Under Your Tree

Figuring out what the top 10 most wanted toys for Christmas are is very important if you want to make sure that Santa gets things right this year. These toys are flying off the shelves with increasing fervor, so it's definitely best to act sooner rather than later so your shopping cart doesn't look sadly empty.

Toy #1 - Elmo Live

The first toy you need to make sure you have is Elmo Live. Elmo is a beloved character for the young and old alike. This Elmo is so lifelike you won't believe your eyes. For such a lifelike toy you'll be surprised at how low the cost is!

Toy #2 - Bakugan Starter Pack

The next toy you need to have on your list for the Christmas 2008 season is the Bakugan starter pack. Children love the anime series Bakugan, so you definitely can't go wrong when you decide to pick up these packs. They are also incredibly inexpensive, and make great stocking stuffers.

Toy #3 - Kidizoom Digital Camera

For that little photographer in your life, you'll want to buy the Kidizoom Digital Camera. This camera is incredibly tough and durable for even the most carefree of children. It also contains features you'd expect on an adult- and much more expensive- camera. This one is probably less than you think.

Toy #4 - Flip Video Camera

The Flip Video Camera. Okay, so this one is technically not a toy. Still, this is a great first video camera for kids because it's inexpensive, small, and very easy to use.

Toy #5 - Busy Ball Popper

For that baby or toddler in your life you'll definitely want to look for the Busy Ball Popper Toy. This one is great because it has colorful balls that go through a tube and pop into the air! Tons of fun for your little one.

Toy #6 - Furreal Friends Biscuit

Furreal Friends Biscuit Dog is a real winner for this holiday season. You can't help but fall in love with this little pup because he is so lifelike. This one is on the expensive side, but the expense is well worth it to see the look of happiness your little one has on his face.

Toy #7 - Eyeclops Night Vision Stealth Goggles

Eyeclops Night Vision Stealth Goggles are next on the list because they are fun for everyone. It's hard to believe, but this toy delivers in a big way by offering real night vision.

Toy #8 - Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii is perhaps an obvious choice, but it's a great one! The Wii has been out for a couple of years now, but it's still hard to find. The interactivity and excitement is something your whole family will love.

Toy #9 - Star Wars Clone Trooper Voice Changer

Star Wars Clone Trooper Voice Changer is another great option. This toy allows your child to change their voice just like in the movies! It's great fun, and sure to bring some laughs.

Toy #10 - Little Big Planet

Last but not least, one of the top 10 most wanted toys for 2008 is Little Big Planet for the Playstation 3 console. This is one of the most innovative, interesting and fun games that has come out in years. You can't go wrong with this title.

Figuring out which toys are hot is half the battle! Now you've got to narrow down your list and choose the best Christmas toys for your own child this year. It also helps to learn about the best pricing deals so you can save money this year. Visit http://bestchristmasgiftsonline.com for more details.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenn_Griffin